Malé Svatoňovice: Culture and Mining History

Malé Svatoňovice combines religious buildings and memorial sites connected with hard coal mining with a named viewpoint and marked trails. When planning your visit, it is worth treating the cultural sites in the town and activities around Žaltman as separate areas of interest. This lets you tailor your stay to whether you are interested in local history, religious buildings, or trails with changes in elevation.

Religious Buildings and Local History

The Čapek Brothers Museum in Malé Svatoňovice was founded in 1946. Another notable building is the pilgrimage Church of the Seven Sorrows of the Virgin Mary. It is a Baroque building dating from 1734 and was remodeled in 1830–1831. These dates mark two distinct phases: the construction of the Baroque building and its later remodeling.

Mariánský sad is a forest park with a Stations of the Cross and seven brick chapels dedicated to the Seven Sorrows of the Virgin Mary. The Boží hrob Chapel adds a building from the early 20th century to these religious sites: it was built between 1902 and 1905 and consecrated on April 8, 1906. Together, the church, Stations of the Cross, and chapels offer several specific starting points for exploring the town’s religious history.

Mining History in the Municipality

Hard coal mining in the municipality began in 1590 and ended in 1990. Another historical feature is the portal of the Kateřina drift: it forms the entrance to a former hereditary adit from the mid-19th century. The adit was used as a water source for the spa. The mining history therefore encompasses different time periods: the period of mining and the construction date of this former adit.

Features in the area associated with hard coal mining include a mining monument, a terrain model depicting coal transportation on a brake incline, a model of a coal preparation plant, and six information panels at relevant locations. The topics mentioned range from coal extraction and transportation to processing.

Park and Spring

The former spa park was established in 1830 and can be accessed from Karel Čapek Square. Its features include a music pavilion and an audience platform. The park thus combines a historical date with two specific structures, which you can consider as separate stops when finding your way around the area.

The Svatoňovická Studánka spring emerges from seven rock fissures; its water does not freeze in winter. As a natural and pilgrimage site, it offers a different focus from the architecture and mining heritage. The spring is particularly striking when viewed seasonally: the statement that its water does not freeze applies specifically to winter.

Žaltman, Hiking, and Cycling Routes

The Žaltman observation tower is 25 meters tall and has 122 steps. From Malé Svatoňovice, a hiking trail marked blue and then green leads to it. The route is approximately four kilometers long and has a significant elevation change. Check the route markings before setting out. This will help you take the approximate distance and the described elevation profile into account when deciding.

The observation tower can be visited year-round, free of charge, and without set opening hours. If weather or maintenance-related restrictions are announced, it is advisable to check the latest access information before your visit.

There are also different options for planning a cycling trip. Cycling Route 3 starts in Malé Svatoňovice and heads toward the Na Markoušovickém hřebeni observation tower at an elevation of 708 meters, with a more challenging climb. Cycling Route 4, by contrast, is described as a circular route: it passes through Havlovice, Rtyně v Podkrkonoší, Odolov, Jívka, Malé Svatoňovice, and Úpice before returning to Havlovice. The routes can therefore be compared by different features: the more challenging climb on Route 3, and the circuit and listed sequence of towns on Route 4. Also check local trail conditions before setting out.

A specifically dated hiking event was the 50th edition of Krvavej Čepelka, organized by KČT Malé Svatoňovice on June 6, 2026. Routes of 5, 10, and 20 kilometers were offered. These three distances describe the options for that event and give an idea of the different route lengths available at that time.

Discover more destinations: Velehrádek, Dolni Branna, Chvaleč, Bernartice U Trutnova, Hostinne, Žacléř, Zábřezí-Řečice, Stanovice U Kuksu

Return to the regional travel overview: Okres Trutnov.